Ship breaking zoning in CBRM questioned

SaltWire Network

Published: Aug 16, 2017 at midnight

Updated: Oct 02, 2017 at 11:49 a.m.

SYDNEY, N.S. - There will be no ship breaking in North Sydney

That was the word from CBRM planning director Malcolm Gillis after Dist. 2 Coun. Earlene MacMullin questioned whether municipal zoning permitted such activity at the Canadian Marine Engineering ship repair yard located on the Northside waterfront.

MacMullin said her confusion on the issue stemmed from a 2016 Transport Canada report that listed CME’s North Sydney location as a site where ship breaking could be carried out on steel-hulled vessels up to 2,500 tonnes.

“That’s what prompted me to ask what was going on, so when I asked the question Malcolm Gillis of the planning department responded in an email that CBRM zoning doesn’t allow it, but unfortunately later that same day I got another call from someone inside saying that they can (break ships in North Sydney),” said MacMullin, who added she felt compelled to get clarification on the matter during this week’s council meeting.

Gillis reiterated his initial response stating again that Cape Breton Regional Municipality zoning does not allow ship breaking at CME’s North Sydney facility.

Although the question was answered, MacMullin still insisted on a staff report on the issue.

“Originally, I was seeking clarification for the North Sydney CME facility … I figured I would ask for it all as it would clear up any issues for fellow councillors further down the road. As a result of this staff paper we will have it listed in black and white what facilities can and cannot (handle ship breaking),” she said.

Earlier this month it was announced that Marine Recycling Corp. had won a $12.6-million federal contract to dismantle two former Canadian Navy ships. The work on the HMCS Preserver and the former research vessel CFAV Quest is to be carried out at Sydport Industrial Park in Edwardsville. The former is docked at Sydport, while the latter has yet to arrive.

The 18-month project is expected to result in 35 direct jobs and 35 spinoff jobs.